The provided text is a detailed account of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse in Tampa Bay, Florida, in May 1980. The collapse occurred when the bulk carrier "Summit Venture" collided with the bridge during a sudden storm, causing a portion of the bridge to fall into the water. This tragic event resulted in the loss of 35 lives.
The text includes information about the bridge's construction, the circumstances leading up to the collision, the role of the pilot and captain of the "Summit Venture," and the subsequent investigations and consequences. It also briefly mentions the fate of the involved vessels, including the "Summit Venture" and the tug "Dixie Progress."
The collapse led to significant changes in bridge construction and navigation safety measures in the area, including the construction of a new bridge with improved safety features. The account also touches upon the emotional toll experienced by those involved, particularly the pilot of the "Summit Venture," John Lero, who faced immense guilt despite being officially exonerated.
1. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge spans the lower Tampa Bay from the city of Saint Petersburg on the north end to the small community of Terra Ceia on the south-southeast end .
2. The original Sunshine Skyway Bridge was a massive undertaking. The only way to cross in this area at the time for decades was the Beeline Ferry service which ran between St Petersburg and Bradenton .
3. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge was constructed at a cost of 22 million US dollars. It opened in September of 1954 .
4. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge was divided into five main sections. The portion of bridge over the bay and main ship channel was roughly four and a half miles long .
5. The bridge was a through truss cantilever span 864 feet in length with steel truss approaches each at five percent gradients .
6. The bridge's popularity was overwhelming and by 1971, a second identical portion had been constructed right alongside running parallel to the original bridge .
7. On May 9, 1980, the ship Summit Venture was waiting in the anchorage just outside Tampa Bay ready to pick up a load of phosphate from Mitsubishi International destined for Korea .
8. On February 16, 1980, the 700 foot bulk carrier MV Joanna Band of Liberian registry struck a southbound bridge pier on its way into Tampa Bay with no injuries .
9. On February 19, 1980, the Summit Venture rammed into Pier 2s hard, destroying it and collapsing the deck it supported down onto the ship's bow .
10. The collapse caused the entire main west cantilever span to fall into the water nearly instantly .
11. In total, 35 souls were lost in the vehicles that plummeted due to the collapse .
12. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that the pilot's decision to attempt to navigate the Summit Venture through the channel and under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge after visual and radar navigational references were lost was not a reasonable and prudent decision .
13. The NTSB also took issue with the National Weather Service regarding the sudden storm surge and its subsequent lack of warning that crossed the Summit Venture's path .
14. The NTSB made a strong case for a real-time bridge out warning system for bridges of this type like lights or lit signs that signal drivers to stop in an instance like the Skyway collapse .
15. The Summit Venture continued carrying cargo under a Liberian license until 1993 .
16. A memorial was dedicated in May of 2015 located at the north end of the main Skyway Bridge .